The free kick comes to nothing and Barcelona eventually earn a free kick for an offside. That should be it for Vilanova's men.
89'
Corner kick to Deportivo! The fans sense something special in the last minute here! They are urging everyone to get forward and Aranzubia is up!
87'
Deportivo don't want this. Instead of searching for the equaliser they are being pegged back into their own half from Barcelona. Professional play from the visitors at the moment.
85'
L. Messi gets yellow.
Does this incredible match have one more curveball to throw at us? You wouldn't bet against it the way things have gone tonight. It has had everything.
83'
The game is showing no signs of slowing down. Barcelona usually aim to kill the game off in the dying minutes with calm passing but its still end to end stuff here!
81'
As long as the difference between the sides is one goal, them Deportivo will feel that they can get something out of this match. They have ten minutes to find an equsliser, which would have looked so unlikely just 18 minutes in!
79'
Diogo Salomão enters the game and replaces Riki.
Jordi Alba is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOOOOOAAAAAL FOR DEPORTIVO!!! This is one crazy match!! Jordi Alba looks to clear the ball at the back post but somehow lobs Victor Valdes with, well, a fantastic finish! 5-4!! This is one for the ages!
78'
Cesc Fàbregas gets yellow.
77'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by Xavi.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAL FOR BARCELONA!!! ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL FROM MESSI!!! The Argentine shifts his body with his back to goal in midfield and somehow turns with incredible pace before driving forward and pinging a shot into the bottom right corner!
75'
You have to feel that there is more goals in this game. Space is beginning to be created in the final third of both halves.
Minute
Description
73'
The tempo of the game has dropped slightly since Xavi entered the fray. The Barcelona captain has intelligently stemmed the flow of Deportivo counterattacks by retaining possession in central areas.
71'
Depor are seeing a small bit of possession inside the Barcelona final third but the visitors are doing well to stifle any potential attack by winning the ball back very quickly. Just under 20 minutes remaining.
69'
Superb pace from Montoya down the right flank to drive beyond the Deportivo defence. He gets to the byline and attempts to smash a cross along the six yard box but Aranzubia defends his near post well and collects the ball.
67'
The scoreline doesn't particularly represent just how excellent Barcelona have been tonight. Defensively they have been questionable but their passing and movement in the middle has been at its inherent best.
65'
The Deportivo fans have been brilliant all throughout this match. Even at 3-0 Barcelona they continued to create a vibrant atmosphere inside Riazor.
63'
Riki picks the ball up on the right-hand side and cuts inside at pace and drives towards goal. He attempts to catch Valdes out with a shot towards the near post but the Barca goalkeeper manages to claim down to his left.
61'
Nélson Oliveira enters the game and replaces Valerón.
Camuñas enters the game and replaces Bruno Gama.
Xavi enters the game and replaces Cesc Fàbregas.
Third and final change for Barcelona as Xavi comes on for Fabregas. Well for the neutral its a shame to see Cesc leave the field as he has been sensational this evening. The passing maestro that is Xavi is not a bad replacement, however.
60'
Laure gets yellow.
Laure rceived a booking for Deportivo, and deservedly so. The right-back went in very late on Jordi Alba. He must be careful for the rest of the match.
58'
Deportivo have cleverly congested the area directly outside their box through the middle and as a result, the room for Barca to manoeuvre is being squeezed.
57'
Valerón gets yellow.
56'
Pedro enters the game and replaces Cristian Tello.
Tito Vilanova does indeed change things. And its two substitutions withing three minutes. David Villa comes off for Adriano and Tello is withdrawn for Pedro.
55'
Well, what an absolutely fantastic game this has been so far, and we have 35 minutes to go! There is no doubt that there will be at least one more goal in this game. The question is, who is it going to?
53'
Adriano enters the game and replaces David Villa.
MESSI HITS THE POST!! The 25-year-old misses out on a hat-trick by inches as his free kick crashes off the inside of the post! So unlucky!
52'
Ayoze gets yellow.
The cards keep on coming. Ayoze sees yellow after a lunging challenge on Lionel Messi. The Argentine was just too quick. Free kick in a great position for Barcelona.
50'
Sergio Busquets has dropped back into centre back for the time being. Barcelona do have defender Marc Bartra on the bench. Lets see if Tito Vilanova opts to change things.
49'
J. Mascherano gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
Javier Mascherano is sent off! Riki skips past the Argentine but then runs into his back. The referee deems this as a bookable offence for Mascherano and the Barca man is sent off! That looked very harsh!
47'
Pizzi has scored a goal for Deportivo La Coruña!
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL FOR DEPORTIVO!!! 4-3! Unbelievable!! Pizzi curls a wonderful free kick into the top right corner from 25 yards! Valdes got a hand to it but he was beaten by the placement of the strike! What a game this is!
46'
WE ARE BACK UNDERWAY!
44'
Superb play on the touchline from Tello to flick the ball over the tackle of Ayoze before stretching his legs down the right and whipping a teasing cross into the centre. Depor manage to clear.
43'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by Cesc Fàbregas.
GOOOOAAAAAAL FOR BARCELONA!!! Cesc threads a fantastic pass through the inside left channel for Messi who takes the ball beyond Marchena before lashing into the bottom left corner with a right-footed strike! 4-2!!!
41'
As I mentioned earlier, this Barcelona defence can certainly be got to. Mascherano and Song are not natural centre backs, so lets see if Deportivo can have more joy.
40'
Álex Bergantiños gets yellow.
39'
Andrés Iniesta gets yellow.
Credit has to be given to Deportivo. There was definitely an element of luck about that goal but their attitude after going three goals down has been top class.
37'
Álex Bergantiños has scored a goal for Deportivo La Coruña!
GOOOOOOAAAAAAL FOR DEPORTIVO!! Awful error from Valdes!! Bergantinos latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and smashes a half-volley towards goal! It looked like bread and butter for the Barca goalkeeper but the ball slips through his hands!! The hosts back in it!
34'
The Barca players do look sharp in the final third, but they are facing a wall of white and blue at the moment. An incisive pass is what is needed for the visitors to break Depor down again.
32'
Deportivo remaining relatively solid at the moment. Naturally Barcelona are having all the possession but some pace has dropped in their attacks.
30'
Barcelona enjoying a period of sustained possession at the moment. They really are being incredibly patient in the midfield. Cesc to Busquets to Iniesta and back again.
28'
Fair play to Deportivo. They have replied well to going three down and their penalty goal has given them a lot of confidence. Still plenty of time to get back into the match they just need to solidify themselves at the back.
26'
Penalty goal scored by Pizzi for Deportivo La Coruña!
GOOOOAAAAAAAL FOR DEPORTIVO!! Riki steps up and strokes the penalty into the top right corner! The hosts peg one back!
25'
Penalty kick to Deportivo!! Pizzi drives forward at pace through the middle and is brought down by Mascherano! That may have been outside the box!! That one is open to interpretation! It was certainly a foul, but was it inside?
24'
Great save from Aranzubia!! David Villa drifts in from the left and rolls a brilliant pass behind the Deportivo defence for Messi who fires a left-footed shot at goal but it was denied by the goalkeeper!
22'
Riki hits the post with a header!!! Wait! He was offside anyway!! Well he is a lucky man to be flagged as offside as he should have buried that chance!
21'
J. Mascherano gets yellow.
20'
Mascherano receives the first booking of the match for a cynical, and rather stupid, challenge on Riki inside the centre circle. That was daft, the Depor man wasn't going anywhere.
18'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by Cesc Fàbregas.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAL FOR MESSI!! Oh my! WHAT A STRIKE!! Cesc rolls the ball into the path of the Argentine who drives forward before lashing an unstoppable strike into the top right corner!! Incredible start from Barcelona!!!
16'
Messi typically floating in the space between the Deportivo defence and midfield. The hosts don't seem to have anyone marking the Argentine. Probably not the best tactic.
14'
Having said that, Barca are employing a make-shift central defensive duo tonight in the form of Mascherano and Song. Perhaps the hosts can have some joy against against the two.
12'
Barca really into their passing rhythmn now. Cesc, Busquets, and Iniesta have all been excellent so far and are effortlessly bossing the midfield. This really could be as big a scoreline as the Catalans want.
10'
Well, Barcelona have been imperious from the get-go but Deportivo have capitulated in the opening stages. Their defending has been all over the place.
8'
Cristian Tello has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Messi.
GOOOOOOAAAAL FOR BARCELONA!!! Messi breaks through the centre and cleverly picks out Tello on the right-hand side. The 21-year-old then cuts inside before shifting the ball on to his right foot and smashing home past Aranzubia! Too easy!
7'
Superb play from Iniesta. He is fouled but from the ground he slides the ball into the path of Messi who dashes forward...
5'
Not the start that Depor would have wanted!! Barcelona explode out the blocks and take an early lead. The home side may be in for a very long evening.
3'
Jordi Alba has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by Cesc Fàbregas.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAL FOR BARCELONA!!! Well that didn't take long!! Cesc receives the ball inside and slides a glorious pass into the feet of Jordi Alba, who takes the ball into his path with a wonderful touch before coolly slotting home into the bottom left corner! 1-0! Just brilliant.
2'
The game is being played at lightning pace in the opening stages. Both teams are pressing with intensity and the ball is being played with speed and precision.
1'
AND WE ARE OFF!
Good evening folks! Welcome to Goal.com's LIVE coverage of the Spanish Primera Division match between Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona at Riazor!
I'm Martin Macdonald, and I'll be taking you through the match tonight. Lets hope we see an entertaining encounter with plenty of action!
Real Madrid cut the gap between themselves and Barcelona to five points earlier today with a 2-0 win over Celta at Santiago Bernabeu, so the Catalans will be hoping to regain their lead at the top of the table against Depor.
THE TEAMS ARE IN.
This is how Deportivo will be lining up tonight: Aranzubia; Laure, Ze Castro, Marchena, Ayoze; Aguilar, Bergantinos; Bruno Gama, Valeron, Pizzi; Riki
This is the starting XI of Barcelona: Valdes; Montoya, Song, Mascherano, Alba; Cesc, Busquets, Iniesta; Tello, Messi, Villa
Interesting team selection from Tito Vilanova. No Xavi in midfield but there is a start in attack for David Villa. Be sure to get your thoughts on the line-ups on to our Twitter page at @goal_intl.
The stats do not make good reading for Deportivo. They are on a six-match winless run in La Liga and have lost three of their last four meetings with Barcelona.
The players have took to the field now. We are just a few moments from kick off!
HALF TIME. Well what a first half!! I said at the start of the match I was hoping for some goals and we haven't been disappointed! Two goals from Messi as well and strikes from Alba and Tello give Barcelona some breathing space as we go into the break. Riki and Bergantinos have added goals for the hosts to make the second half very interesting indeed. See you in 15 minutes for the second period!
FULL TIME. A fantastic hat-trick from Lionel Messi and strikes from Jordi Alba and Cristian Tello give Barcelona the three points in a truly enthralling encounter at Riazor. A match that represents all that is great about La Liga. Incredible entertainment. Thank you for joining us on Goal.com! I'm Martin Macdonald, see you next time!
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